Grambling takes 6-game win streak to Miss. Valley

Grambling has had plenty to celebrate this season after wrapping up its sixth straight win this past week with a 35-7 win at Texas Southern.

A year ago, though, the Tigers only did one victory dance all season when they beat Mississippi Valley State 47-40 in the aftermath of two interim head coaches, a player boycott and a forfeit.

Those program blunders seem far in the distance, though, as the G-Men get ready for a Thursday night game at none other than Mississippi Valley State when two first-year head coaches square off in SWAC action. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

“They are a very aggressive bunch,” Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs said. “They have got a really good football coach who was at Jackson State last year in Rick Comegy, so we know what we are going to get. We are going to get a really tough opponent.”

Comegy helped Jackson State to the SWAC West title a year ago, but he is still in the growing pains of guiding Missisippi Valley who is 2-7 and on a two-game losing streak with its most recent loss to UAPB 24-14.

The Delta Devils opened the season with a win before a five-game losing skid, but they did beat Comegy’s old school Jackson State 27-23 to give them a perk in SWAC play.

“One thing about it is they’re going to play hard,” Fobbs said. “Any time you go down to Itta Bena, Mississippi, you’re going to get their best effort.”

One of Mississippi Valley’s two wins did come in the friendly confines of Rice-Totten Stadium and the school is encouraging fans to wear green and white for the final home game of the season and are also offering tickets for $5 at the gate to help promote a crowd for the ESPNU televised game.

Grambling’s home games are growing by the wins as the team continues to re-gain support after coming off the 1-11 season a year ago.

“Even when things weren’t going well, it’s still Grambling,” Fobbs said. “This university has done a lot when it comes to athletics, but yeah when we walk into the stadium we can see it and can feel the eyes, but we also take the humble approach that we have not accomplished anything.

“What we want is still down the road, but the good thing is the later into the season you have the chance to still achieve your goals, it means you’re on the right track.”

Grambling ranks fourth among SWAC teams in scoring offense (31.1 points a game) and in passing (245.6 yards per game). Starting quarterback Johnathan Williams completed 19-of-26 passes in last week’s win at Texas Southern with 197 yards and two touchdowns.

He was later relieved by backup Stephen Johnson once the game was decided.

Juwan Martin led all rushers with 76 yards on 14 carries and three Grambling receivers had 40 yards or more.

“Eleven different guys touched the football, and that’s a good thing,” Fobbs said. “Eight different players ran the football and two different quarterbacks had the opportunity to make plays and they made plays for us.”

A similar production came from the defense with 25 different players making a tackle, Fobbs said.

“Any time you’re able to get that many guys involved it really helps you to get guys to play at the level you want them to play,” Fobbs said.